Hapanleipä (Finnish Sourdough Rye Bread)
A dense, dark, and deeply flavorful sourdough rye bread, Hapanleipä is a staple in Finnish cuisine. Its characteristic sour taste comes from a long fermentation process, and it's traditionally baked as a flat, round loaf with a hole in the center.
🧂 Ingredients
- 2 packages Active dry yeast(or 5 teaspoons)
- 2 cups Warm water(about 110°F (43°C))
- 3 cups Rye flour(plus more for dusting)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2.5 cups Bread flour(to 3.5 cups, or unbleached all-purpose flour)
- for greasing Butter
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl, dissolve 1 package (or 2.5 tsp) of yeast in 1 3/4 cups of warm water. Stir in 3 cups of rye flour. Cover and let stand in a warm place for 36-48 hours, or until a strong sour aroma develops.
💡 Tip: The dough should smell 'really stinky' according to tradition. - 2
Dissolve the remaining yeast in 1/4 cup of warm water and add it to the rye mixture. Add salt and stir in enough bread flour to form a stiff dough.
- 3
Let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Turn it out onto a lightly floured board and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Add flour to the board as needed to make it workable.
- 4
Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning to coat. Cover with a damp towel and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 2 hours.
- 5
Punch down the dough, knead briefly, and divide in half. Shape each half into a ball, then flatten into a 12-inch diameter circle on a greased baking sheet. Create a 2-inch diameter hole in the center of each loaf.
- 6
Cover the loaves and let them rise for about 1 hour, until doubled in size. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- 7
Pierce the loaves all over with a fork. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush the tops with butter and cover with a towel to soften the crust while cooling.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓The long fermentation is key to the bread's characteristic sourness.
- ✓Using freshly ground rye flour can enhance the enzymatic activity for better flavor.
- ✓Cool completely before slicing.
🔄 Variations
- Some recipes use caraway seeds for added flavor.
- Bake in rectangular loaves for easier slicing, though the traditional shape is round with a hole.